Skills for Work

Skills for Work courses focus on generic employability skills needed for success in the workplace. The courses offer learners opportunities to learn these skills through a variety of practical experiences that are linked to vocational areas.

Skills for Work courses help young people to develop their self-confidence. They also aim to provide a very positive learning experience. A chance to work on practical skills that relate to the world of work provides real benefits to learners.

Learners may spend some of their time at a local college, training provider or employer. These learning environments allow learners to meet new people and face new challenges.

The courses intend to provide progression pathways to further education, training and employment. Experiential learning in appropriate learning environments is an essential feature of each course. But work placement is not essential.

Development of new National Qualifications

Following the development of the new National Qualifications, the titles of the Skills for Work Courses have now been changed from Access 3, Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2 to National 3, National 4 and National 5 respectively. The Course codes have also been changed and any new candidates must be entered for the new Course codes.

It is important to note that the content of these Courses has not changed; just the title and accompanying Course code. The standards, learning, teaching and assessment remain unchanged and if you have an open entry for Access 3, Intermediate 1 or Intermediate 2, you can still result these in the normal way.